Novel Mavens keep 'rules-free' book club going

Carolyn Mueller

Published 12:44 pm, Wednesday, November 21, 2012

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Club notes
The Novel Mavens have picked the following books to read:
"The Haunted Rectory," by Katherine Valentine
"Gilead," by Marilynne Robinson
"The Christmas Box," by Richard Paul Evans
"Honeymoon in Purdah," by Alison Wearing

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A few weeks ago, considering the flexibility offered by online book discussion groups, I wondered if some of them were doomed by the very unstructured nature that makes them so appealing in the first place.

But then, an update from the Novel Mavens arrived in my inbox, with well-timed reminders of what books they're reading and when they're meeting. I remembered a conversation I'd had in early fall with two members of this book club.

"The rules are, there are no rules!" the ladies said, gleefully.

But in reality, this club isn't as willy-nilly as all that. They actually have in-person meetings, rotating their location among members homes or local restaurants. Membership is centered in the New Milford area.

Dalene Perlowsky, of New Milford, sends members email reminders about the book and meeting details. She includes a synopsis of each book, so the reader has an idea what she's in for before cracking the cover.

So far this fall, they've been seasonal in their book selections. In October, the book, "The Haunted Rectory," by Katherine Valentine, a spooky suspense novel, sounded like a good match with the club's Halloween party. Members were encouraged to wear crazy hats to that month's meeting.

November saw the selection of "Gilead," by Marilynne Robinson. This award-winning novel also features a member of the clergy, but this time it's an elderly Congregational pastor, who is writing his memoir for the benefit of his young son. The Rev. Ames knows he is dying, and, realizing his son will have relatively few memories of him, wants to leave this account for him. Ames also needs to make peace with his own anger and resentment regarding his best friend's son.

A fictional memoir seems to go well with the nostalgic air of November, as people gather once again for Thanksgiving and recount memories of shared holidays past. Maybe it has something to do with the last of the leaves falling from the trees as we move farther away from the warmth of summer.

But things brighten up for Christmas. The Novel Mavens have their Christmas party at a local restaurant, and enjoy a book swap. In keeping with the holiday season, their pick for December is "The Christmas Box," by Richard Paul Evans. Kicking off the new year, the January selection is "Honeymoon in Purdah," by Alison Wearing. This book chronicles the journey of Wearing and her male roommate, who pose as a married couple to travel in Iran. Wearing gives the reader a picture of Iranian citizens as welcoming, warm human beings with a sense of humor, something beyond the typical depiction of fanatical Iranians in the news headlines.

As for what the rest of 2013 will bring for the readers in the Novel Mavens, I don't yet know. But for this well-coordinated yet rules-free group, I imagine fun will be a big part of it.

To have your book club featured, email cmueller@newstimes.com with "Book club" in the subject line. Include a daytime phone number; 203-731-3338; http://twitter/CarolynMNT.